ACLU of Florida Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Agreeing to Hear Marriage Cases

Today, the United States Supreme Court has granted review of a federal appeals court ruling that upheld bans in four states on the freedom to marry and recognition of marriages of same-sex couples legally performed in other states. Today’s announcement sets the stage for final resolution of the debate about marriage equality for same-sex couples nationwide.

“This is a very exciting day, as the nation’s highest court has agreed to hear arguments that could settle once and for all the matter of whether states can shut some people out of the institution of marriage simply for being gay or lesbian. Today’s news has no immediate impact on marriage in Florida, which last week became the most recent state with the freedom to marry. Because Judge Hinkle’s ruling in the federal cases challenging Florida’s marriage ban went into effect last week, loving couples will continue to be able to marry.

“In the meantime, we are cheering on the legal teams including our colleagues at the ACLU’s LGBT Rights Project as they prepare to make the case to the US Supreme Court that these hurtful bans are unconstitutional, and look forward to a final ruling that means that all loving couples throughout the country can finally have access to the protections and dignity that come with marriage.”

The end of exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage in Florida is the result of an August 21st ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle finding the marriage ban unconstitutional in two cases: one brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida on behalf of eight married same-sex couples, a Fort Myers widow, and SAVE, South Florida’s largest LGBT rights organization; the other by Jacksonville attorneys William Sheppard and Sam Jacobson on behalf of two couples. A temporary stay on that ruling expired at the end of the day on January 5th.

Attorneys from the ACLU and the ACLU of Florida and Stephen F. Rosenthal of Podhurst Orseck, P.A. represent the plaintiffs in the ACLU case. More information on the case, including bios of the plaintiffs, and an FAQ for couples seeking to marry, is available at: www.aclufl.org/marriageequality

About the ACLU of Florida

The ACLU of Florida is freedom’s watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For additional information, visit our web site at: www.aclufl.org